Recording device



Oct. 30, 1934. c, M F FRlDEN v 1,979,208

RECORDING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1930 FIE-3 L A TTOR Sii Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT; ori-Ice 4 RECORDING DEVICE Application May 28, 1930, Serial No. 456,745

20 Claims.

This invention relates to stamping or recording devices and particularly to devices suitable for obtaining a printed record of the time, or of any other recordable information.

The invention is applicable to devices of this character in which the printing operation is ini= tiated by a small force, such as by the insertion of a piece of paper or other sheet into the printing position of the device. A device of this character is ordinarily quite sensitive on account of the feeble force required to actuate the device. Occasionally, more than one imprint is made, which results in a mutilation of the record.

It is one object of this invention to devise novel means for initiating the printing operation in a recorder by inserting a sheet of material in the printing position.

Another object is to devise means for preventing more than one printing stroke for a single insertion of the sheet on which the record is to be made.

@ther obg'ects will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the detailed description of one embodiment of my invention proceeds.

in the accompanying drawing I have shown one iorzn of the invention applied to a recorder and, to avoid confusion, only those parts of the recorder are shown which are essential to a clear understanding ci the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic View showing the normal relation of the parts o a recorder embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar vien7 showing the actuating strip inserted in a position to cause. actuation of the device.'

' 3 shows the parts as they appear lprintlng stroke.

Fig. fi illustrates the relation of the parts oi the device after the' completion or the printing operation.

riely, the particular embodiment ci the invention illustrated in 'the drawing makes use of a trigger member which is tripped by a sheet ci paper or the like when it is inserted between 'the type carrying member and the platen oi a re corder. This trigger member controls an electric circuit which includes a magnet for driving the during the platen against the paper and the type to eiect printing of the desired data on the paper. On completion of the printing stroke the parts are returned to their original position and means is provided for preventing any undesired repetition oi the printing stroke.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown a suitable type carrying member, such as a type wheel 16, and a platen 17 disposed adjacent the type carrying member which is adapted to coact therewith to elect a printing operation. Type Wheel 16 and platen 17 are relatively movable, one against the other, and in the embodiment shown, platen 17 is indicated as the movable element. Any desired number of type Wheels 16 can be provided and these type Wheels are adapted to be set by suitable mechanism so that they Will impart various kinds of information.

Preferably platen 17 is actuated by electrical means and for this purpose it is connected to a plunger 18 associated with a solenoid 19. Solenoid 19 is energized upon the closing of a pair of contacts 21 and 22 over a circuit extending from a suitable source of current through line 23, contact 21, contact 22, line 24, solenoid 19, and line 25 back to the source of current. Contact 21 is preferably mounted on a lever 26 pivoted at 27. Where conditions Warrant it, both or either one of contacts 21 and 22 can be insulated in any suitable manner from their respective mountu ings. Resilient means, such as a spring 28, is provided for urging contacts 21 and 22 together.

For controlling the actuation or contacts 21 and 22, a trigger member 29 is provided which is pivoted at 31 and lightly biased by a spring 32 to the position shown in Fig. l. Trigger member 29 is adapted to abut against lever 26 and in this manner contacts 21 and 22 are normally kept separated. Upon insertion of a sheet of paper or other strip 34 into the printing position be tween type carrying member 16 and platen 17, trigger member 29 is adapted to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 by the strip. Trigger member 29 is in this manner moved adjacent an aperture 3S in lever 26, thereby releasing the restraint on lever 26. Spring 28 then causes movement of lever 26 to bring contacts 21 and 22 together, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Solenoid 19 thereupon becomes energized and i'orces platen l? and strip 3d against the type carrying member lo, as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the edge LTO of strip 3e becomes disengaged from trigger f member 2Q, spring 32 returns trigger member 29 to its normal' position under the unapertured portion of the lever 26.

IThe printing movement of platen 17 causes contacts 21 and 22 to become disengaged thereby breaking the circuit of solenoid 19. The momentum of platen 17 carries it against type member 16, causing a quick and clean-cut impression to be made on strip 34, as by means of an interposed nking ribbon or by ink applied to the y printing surface, and then platen 17 immediately returns to its normal position.

Upon the return of platen 17, strip 34 is moved away from'the type member as shown in Fig. 4 and is caught between the end of trigger member 29 and lever 26. The edge of strip 34 is in this manner held in a. position which precludes movement of the lever 26 to again close the circuit to produce another stamping operation. If, for example, strip 34 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, the strip itself covers aperture 36 and prevents trigger member 29 from entering the opening. On the other hand, when strip 34 is drawn to the left to remove it from the device, the trigger member 29 takes the position shown in Fig. 1 with its end abutting against lever 26. Thus, it is apparent that more than one impression is prevented for a single insertion of the strip.

In prior devices oi' this character the edge of strip 34 was not restrained in this manner but was free to play against the actuating mechanism. This condition occasionally caused a repetition of the printing stroke, thereby mutilating the first impression, which otherwise would have been perfectly clear.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, since the invention as dened in the appended claims can be embodiedin a plurality of forms.

I claim :l

1. In a recorder having a frame, a type carrying member stationary with respect to said frame, a platen, means for moving said platen with respect to said frame responsive to insertion of a strip between said type carrying member and said platen, and means for preventing more than the desired actuation of said platen for a single insertion of a strip.

2. In a recorder, a platen, a solenoid for operating said platen, a pair of contacts for controlling the circuit of said solenoid, and trigger mechanism set by said platen for controlling said contacts.

3. h1 a recorder, a platen, a solenoid for operating said platen, a pair of contacts for controlling the circuit of said solenoid and trigger mechanism for controlling said contacts, said trigger mechanism adapted to be tripped by a sheet inserted in the printing position of said recorder.

4.` In a recorder, a platen, a solenoid for operating said platen, a pair of contacts for controllingV the circuit of said solenoid and trigger mechanism for controlling said contacts, said trigger mechanism adapted to be tripped by a sheet inserted in the printing position of said recorder, and means for preventing more than one actuation oi said trigger mechanism upon a single insertion of a strip.

5. In a printing device having a frame, a type carrying member, a platen member, electromagnetic means for efecting relative movement of` said members, one of said members being stationary with respect to said frame, a trigger member adapted to be actuated by the insertion of a strip in the printing position, and means responsive to actuation of said trigger member for effecting energization of said electromagnetic means and means for preventing more than the desired energization of said electromagnetic means for a single insertion of a strip.

6. In a printing device, a type carrying member, a platen, electromagnetic means for effecting relative `movement of said type carrying member and said platen, an electrical circuit including said electromagnetic means and a pair of contacts, and trigger means for controlling said. contacts, said trigger means adapted to be actuated by the insertion of a strip between said type carrying member and said platen to initiate a printing operation, and Ameans operative at the completion of the printing operation to retain the strip in a position .which precludes a repetition of the printing operation for the same insertion.

7. In a printing device, means for initiating a printing stroke adapted to be controlled by the insertion of a strip in the printing position, and means operative at the completion of the printing stroke to retain the strip in a position which precludes a repetition of the printing stroke for the same insertion.

8. In a recorder, a type carrying member, a platen, means for actuating said platen responsive to the insertion of a sheet in the printing position of said recorder, and means operative at the completion of the actuation of said platen to retain the sheet in a position which precludes a repetition of the actuation of said platen for the same insertion.

9. In a device of the character described, a platen, a device adapted to be electrically energized to operate said platen, a circuit for said device, a normally restrained open switch in said 105 circuit biased toward closed position, means operated by the insertion of a strip for releasing said switch to close the circuit and operate the platen, movement of the platen serving to open the switch` and return the switch to normally, restrained open position.

l0. In a device ci the character described, a platen, a device adapted to be electrically energized to operate said platen, a circuit for said device, a switch in said circuit biased to closed position, a trigger normally holding said switch open, insertion of a strip serving to move said trigger to release the switch to cause movement o the platen, movement of the platen serving to reset said trigger in open switch position.

11. In a device of the character-described, a platen, electromagnetic means for operating said platen, a circuit for said electromagnetic means including a normally openswitch, a normally restrained energized element tending to close said iw switch, means operated by the insertion of a strip for releasing the restraint on said element to cause closure of the circuit and operation of the platen, and means operative `concurrently with movement of the platen for restoring the restraint on said element.

12. In a recorder, means for operating the recorder including a normally energized restrained element released by insertion of a sheet into the recorder, and means eiective during a single operation of the recorder for returning said element to restrained condition and holding said sheet out of releasing position.

13. In a recorder, an electric circuit, means continuallybiased to close said circuit, restraining means for holding said circuit open and adapted .to be rendered ineffective by a single manual operation, and means eective when said circuit is closed to restore the eiect of said restraining means.

14. In a recorder, an electric circuit, a pair of contacts continually biased to close said circuit, a latch normally holding said contacts in open circuit position, said latch being aiected by a single manual stroke to release said contacts, and 15G automatic means for resetting said latch while said contacts are released.

15. In a recorder, a normally open electric circuit, a circuit closing device including a plurality of contacts normally held in open restrained position by a tensioned latch, said latch. being ,operable by a single manual stroke to effect closing of said circuit, and automatic resetting means for said latch operable during the closed cycle of said circuit.

i6. in a recorder, a printing mechanism, a platen, a solenoid ior effecting printing movement between said printing mechanism and said platen, an electric circuit for said solenoid, electric contact interposed in said circuit, a trip device operable by the insertion of an object to be printed into printing position or releasing said contacts to close said circuit, and automatic means adapted to open said contacts during said printing movement.

l?. In a recorder, an indicia bearing member, a platen normally spaced from said member, a device extending into the space between said platen and said member and adapted to be released by an object to be printed for eiectng relative cyclic movement between said platen and said member, and automatic means for resetting said device during a single cycle of said movement and holding said object out of releasing position.

18. lin a recorder, relatively movable means for effecting a printing operation, means urged to energize said movable means, and a. trip releasable by an object to be printed for restraining said urged means and for holding said object.

19. In a recorder, electrical meansfor effecting a printing operation including a pair of contacts continually urged toward closed position, and a trip releasable by an object to be printed for holding said contacts in open position.

20. 1n a recorder, electrical means for effecting a printing operation including a pair of contacts urged toward closed position, and a trip releasable by an object to be printed for holding said contacts in open position.

CARL M. FRlDFld.

incoanme Enviar. Patent dated October 30, 1934.. Disclaimer illedlvarcli 30, 1939, oy the assignee, International Business Iachmes Corporation.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 5, i3 to i6 inclusive, i9, and 20 ln said speccaton.

. [O etal Gazette April 25, 1:98.9.1 

